India today expressed its readiness to work with the international community to promote gender equality and empowerment of women in rural areas for achieving inclusive and sustainable growth.

Addressing the 56th session of the Commission on the Status of Women currently underway in New York, Secretary in India's Ministry of Women and Child Development Neela Gangadharan said India is meticulously pursuing the Millennium Development Goals to ensure holistic empowerment of rural women.

Mrs. Gangadharan, who is leading the Indian delegation said India has focussed on inclusive growth and access to opportunities to both rural and urban women. She said Skill development and skill upgradation of rural and marginalized women are priorities of the country.